relapse records – Nine Circles

Album Review: Inter Arma – “New Heaven”

April 25, 2024April 24, 2024IanLeave a comment

To say that the last five years since Inter Arma put out the magnificent Sulphur English have been tumultuous is a wild understatement. Obviously, a global pandemic took its toll, and the usual suspect of membership turnover reared its head, but the band also had to seemingly fight against nature and fate itself to bring New Heaven to light. Natural disasters, a car crash that almost killed songwriter T.J. Childers and new bassist Joel Moore, and a studio space in such disrepair that it almost precluded them from doing any meaningful recording were just a few of the hurdles the quintet had to jump through.

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CANTO: Alcest, Inter Arma, Doomcrusher, and More

April 18, 2024April 18, 2024CoreyLeave a comment

I’m starting to sense it… my first trail run of the year is drawing near.

Leading off, the latest from Inter Arma, who have been steadily revealing more material from New Heaven. That album is out a week from tomorrow through Relapse Records, and you can listen to “Desolation’s Harp” here.
Next up, syk. The progressive black and death metallers are dropping eartHFlesh on May 10 through Season of Mist, and “I am the beast” is available for your listening pleasure right now.
Here’s a cool thing. Octoploid, the new project from bassist Olli-Pekka “Oppu” Laine (Amorphis, Barren Earth), will release their debut full-length on July 5 through Reigning Phoenix Music, titled Beyond The Aeons. Check out “Human Amoral” here, a track that features Tomi Joutsen.
Doomcrusher just dropped their sophomore single, “Reflect”, which you can hear (and watch) here. So if you need a dose of heavy in your Thursday… there you have it.
I can think of someone at Nine Circles excited about the upcoming new Alcest album (or, you know, all of us), so let’s end with their new video for “Flamme Jumelle”. As a reminder, Les Chants De L’Aurore is out on June 21 through Nuclear Blast.

“Ein Bier… bitte.”
– cmb

Initial Descent: March 31 – April 06, 2024

April 1, 2024March 31, 2024Josh1 Comment

Hour of Penance – image courtesy of Massimiliano Rocchi

I had this big long thing I was going to lead with but the more I thought about it, the more I decided that this week’s new releases couldn’t wait. So, here we go… I have said this recently and I’m saying it again now because the sweet ass death metal from Hour Of Penance kicks off us off in style. Then we move to one of my favorite sludge metal bands, Iron Monkey, who are still one of the nastiest to ever do it, next up we’ve got a beautiful rock / metal outing from Dool (this one hangs around until EOY time, trust me), and last up top this week is The Neptune Power Federation who Chris was super high on so it should be one hell of a good time. And, of course, we’ve got a full listing elsewhere so dig in to those and we’ll be seeing you here throughout the week.

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CANTO: Rotting Christ, Inter Arma, Týr, and More

March 28, 2024March 28, 2024CoreyLeave a comment

Today is my Friday, so let’s party. And by party I mean… anything but that.

Rotting Christ is always a good decision, so let’s start with their new single “Saoirse”, the latest offering from Pro Xristou. As a reminder, that’s out on May 24 through Season of Mist.
Týr kicks off their North American tour tonight, so let’s drop in their new track “Dragons Never Die” next. Battle Ballads is out on April 12 through Metal Blade, and if you if happened to forget about that tour I just mentioned… here are the details.
Aumicide, the new LP from tech death crew Atræ Bilis, arrives on April 19 through 20 Buck Spin and it is sure to be a monster. Check out “Inward To Abraxas” to get a sense of what I mean.
To slide a little gothic metal into the mix tonight, here is the latest from Trail of Tears, titled “Winds of Disdain”. That’s the title-track from their upcoming new EP, which is out on May 24 through The Circle Music.
Inter Arma offered up another sampling from New Heaven today titled “Concrete Cliffs”, the video of which can be found below. That album is out on April 26 through Relapse, and they’re touring with Pallbearer a little later this year.

“Ein Bier… bitte.”
– cmb

Rainbows in the Dark: Zombi – “Direct Inject”

March 24, 2024March 25, 2024Chris1 Comment

There is music to rock to, music to dance to, and even music to smash your face into. Perhaps you can make the case all music can fit into these categories (okay, maybe add “music to cry to”) but since first hearing the potent call of Zombi almost 20 years ago I’m forced to create another category: music to escape to. And with Direct Inject the duo have once again threaded together their ever expanding musical proclivities into something that transports the listener through time and space. In other words, this one goes forwards and backwards, up and down, and left and right. It’s Wonka’s Great Synth Elevator, and when it gets high enough you can the see world below and the stars above.

Let’s melt away.

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